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Rolls-Royce Workers Present Plan to Save Bootle Site

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM--(Marketwire - Jan. 17, 2008) -

Issue date: Wednesday 16th January 2008

Publication date: Thursday 17th January 2008

Workers from Rolls-Royce will put forward a ten year business plan today (Thursday 17th January) to persuade the company that there is an alternative plan which will keep the Bootle site open and prevent 212 job losses.

Unite the union members from the Bootle site will meet Ralph Kirkpatrick, Vice President, Energy Packaging Department, USA, Kirk Larson, Vice President Human Resources, Energy, USA together with local management in an attempt to try to stop the closure and prove the site has a viable future on Merseyside.

Since the announcement in November, workers at Rolls-Royce, Bootle, which make turbines for the oil and gas industries, have been campaigning to halt the company's proposals to shift production to its plant in Mount Vernon, USA. Unite says workers are not only fighting to save 200 local jobs but to help secure future quality jobs and skills on Merseyside.

Unite wants Rolls-Royce to listen to the proposals of their highly skilled workforce or announce its final decision on the future of the site.

Unite Regional Officer, Debbie Brannan said: "We are not defeated at all. We've got an alternative business plan and a highly committed workforce and hope very much that the company will take on board our proposals to secure the future of the site.

"Many workers have families and mortgages to pay and want to know about their future even if it is bad news. We can't let this drag on any longer it's time the company came clean on its final decision.

The "Keep Rolls-Royce on Merseyside", campaign 18,000 name petition was presented to 10 Downing Street this week (Tuesday 15th January). Workers also held a successful meeting with local MPs, Joe Benton, Lindsay Hoyle, David Crausby, Peter Kilfoyle, George Howard, Louise Ellman and Edward O'Hara.

Unite is calling an emergency meeting with Rolls-Royce and local MPs at Westminster before the consultation period ends on 28th January 2008.